Graduate Program Overview (2024)

Graduate Program

The Computer Engineering program offers the B.S. + M.S. program and the M.S. degree in Computer Engineering. Specific requirements for each degree are described below. The Computer Engineering major stresses the study of core computer science and electrical engineering topics. It prepares students for careers in the design of complex systems involving computer hardware, computer software, electronics, and electrical signals for communications, networking, desktop computing, and embedded computing.

M.S. in Computer Engineering

Students must be in residence for at least one year and complete a minimum of 44 quarters units of graduate and upper division under- graduate courses in or related to the major subject area. Students who have completed similar courses elsewhere may petition for waiver of a required course or for substitution of an alternative course. For students interested in interdisciplinary research, individual study programs can be approved. The normative time for the completion of the M.S. in Computer Engineering is two years.

1. Core Requirement (12 units). Three courses from the list of core courses below, with no grade lower than B-.
   CS 201, CS 202, CS 203, CS 220, EE 213, CS 217/EE 217, CS 251/EE 255

2. Technical Electives (16 units). Choose four from Computer Science or Electrical Engineering 200-level courses. Seminar courses (CS 260 and CS 270-level courses, EE 260-level courses), as well as CS 290, CS 297, CS 299 and EE 290, EE 297 and EE 299 may not be used.

3. Additional Credits (16 units). This category may be satisfied by a combination of the choices below:
   • Additional graduate technical electives as described under (2.) above;
   • Up to three of the undergraduate technical electives below to satisfy additional credits;
     CS 105, CS 111, CS 120B, CS 122A, CS 122B, CS 130, CS 141, CS 150, CS 152, CS160, CS 161L, CS 162, CS 164, CS 165, CS 166, CS 168, CS 169, CS 170, CS 171, CS 172, CS 177, CS 179 (E-Z), CS 180, CS 181, CS 183, CS 193, EE 100B, EE 105, EE 115, EE 120B, EE 123, EE 128, EE 132, EE 133, EE 135, EE 141, EE 144, EE 146, EE 150, EE 151, EE 152, EE 165, EE 175A, EE 175B, ENGR 160; or
   • Up to two seminar classes (CS260, EE260 or similar classes);

   • With the pre-approval of the graduate advisor, any relevant 200-level courses from other departments in Engineering or outside. If pre-approval is not obtained, there is no guarantee that a class will be deemed relevant.

4. Professional Development Requirement, Colloquium (1 unit).
   Satisfactory completion of one of the following courses: one quarter of CS 287, EE 259, GDIV 301, GDIV 403, or at least one unit of CS 298I or EE 298I. Other professional development courses may be used to satisfy this requirement if approved by the graduate advisor.

5. Capstone Experience
   All students must complete a capstone experience that synthesizes and integrates the knowledge and skills obtained throughout the master’s program, by either passing a comprehensive exam, writing a thesis, or completing a project. The Comprehensive Examination is the default option. If a student chooses the alternative project or thesis option, itis their responsibility to find a faculty member willing to supervise the master’s project or thesis, to form the faculty examining committee, and to schedule the oral examination.
   1. Comprehensive Examination Option. In addition to the course requirements above, students must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the Computer Engineering Program.
   2. Project Option. Students may replace up to 4 units of courses listed under “Additional Credits” with 4 units of directed research (CS 297, EE 297) and/ or directed studies (CS 290, EE 290). Units obtained in graduate research for the thesis or dissertation (CS 299, EE 299) may not be used to satisfy any course requirements under this option. Students must complete a research project under the guidance of a faculty member. The project will be approved by a committee of at least two faculty members, at least one of whom is a faculty member in the Computer Engineering program, and requires a presentation and written report. Students are required to enroll in at least 2 units ofCS 297, 290 or 299 no later than the third quarter from the start of their program.
   3. Thesis Option. Students may replace up to 8 units of courses listed under “Additional Credits” with 8 units of graduate research for the thesis or dissertation (CS 299, EE 299). Units obtained in directed research or directed studies (CS 290, CS 297, EE 290, EE 297) may not be used to satisfy any course requirements under this option. Students must submit a master’s thesis in accordance with the general requirements of the university. The thesis is original research work, and it should demonstrate the student’s ability to study a research area, identify an open problem and make a research contribution. The thesis requires a presentation and must be approved by a committee of at least three faculty members.Students are required to enroll in at least 2 units ofCS 297, 290 or 299 no later than the third quarter from the start of their program.

Combined B.S.+M.S. Five -Year Program

The college offers a combined five-year B.S.+ M.S. program, designed to allow successful UCR Computer Engineering B.S. graduates to complete the Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering in one year, by allowing up to 12 credits of coursework taken as a UCR undergraduate to be counted towards the elective requirements of the M.S. (The courses that can be double counted are those that are eligible to be counted as technical electives in the B.S. requirements.)

https://student.engr.ucr.edu/BS-MS-requirements

Sample Program for MS CEN

The following is a sample program for an M.S. CEN degree with the Project/Thesis options.